Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu have welcomed the Government of India’s decision to immediately suspend the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had today announced that since the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is currently in the process of scrapping the FMR, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recommends its immediate suspension “to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North Eastern States bordering Myanmar.”

Read more: MHA decides to scrap Free Movement Regime between India and Myanmar

In a post on X, N Biren Singh expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah “for their commitment to securing our borders”.

This is yet another historic decision in curbing illegal immigration and strengthening our internal security after the recent announcement to fence the 1643 Km Indo-Myanmar border by Government of India, Manipur’s CM stated.

Shah had on Wednesday asserted that the Modi government is committed to building “impenetrable borders”.

Arunachal CM too conveyed his gratitude to PM Modi and Shah “for their steadfast commitment to safeguard our borders.” Pema Khandu stated that the “landmark decision” to scrap the FMR “signifies yet another important step in the ongoing efforts to address illegal immigration.”

The governments of Nagaland and Mizoram are yet to issue statements on the issue.